But this futuristic shelter, built to teeter over the edge of a 1000ft drop in the Italian Alps, could save the lives of scores of stranded climbers in the coming years.

And if you’ve got a head for heights, you can use it as a hotel. Bookings can be made online for £23 a night.

Be warned, however. The British Mountaineering Council say the approach to the bothy, in the treacherous Mont Blanc range near the French-Italian border, is “not without danger”.

The Italian Alpine Club commissioned the £200,000 shelter to replace a wooden hut built in 1948. It was flown by helicopter to the ridge in sections and bolted to the rock.

The hut, 9800ft above sea level, has space for 12 climbers, a kitchen, a dining room and a living room with stunning views over a glacier.

Solar power provides electricity and there’s internet access so mountaineers can check the weather forecast.

There’s also a “digester” system for toilet waste.

A spokesman for Leap Factory, the Italian design team whocreated the bothy, said: “It’s a great achievement. We wanted a futuristic look and that’s how it turned out. There were difficulties building it, but we got there.”

Some critics say the hut is garish and out of keeping with its surroundings but Alpine Club bosses wanted a design that would be easy for lost climbers to spot.